Flight For Lives KCH Press Release

Press release
Issued: 2011
Pilot flies 16,000 miles to raise cash for Kings liver team
On the 14 February 2010, 47 year old Chris McLaughlin woke up vomiting blood. Unbeknown to him, hed had a childhood exposure to hepatitis and after collapsing was rushed to his local hospital in Surrey. After being diagnosed with liver and short-term kidney failure, former BA pilot Chris was transferred to Kings College Hospital for specialist care. After two months in intensive care, he was given a 20 per cent chance of survival and doctors feared that he would not survive an operation. But against the odds, Chris had his liver transplant in April 2010. Now, 18 months later, the former British Airways Captain, who has had to learn to walk again, is about to embark on a flight half way around the world to raise 20,000 for the team at Kings, who saved his life. With wife and pilot Corrine, Chris will be taking to the American skies and flying their four-seat Cessna 172 plane in aid of the Kings College Hospital Charity. Chris, a pilot for 27 years who is originally from Canada, chose the route from Cape Cod, Massachusetts in North America to Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of Argentina in South America. The 16,000 mile journey, expected to take between two and three months, will begin in December. During their adventure, the route will take them across extreme terrain and weather as they fly over the Amazon and Andes, towards Antarctic conditions. The starting point will be Nantucket Island and the journey will finish in Ushuaia after circling Cape Horn itself. Chris, who is now on the road to a full recovery following his transplant at Kings, said: After many months in intensive care I was miraculously given a liver transplant, at what could only be described as the last minute. I most certainly would not be here today if it were not for the person whose liver I received and the incredible team of people at Kings. Whilst Chris was in hospital, Corrine spent her time at Listen Lodges. This is accommodation provided nearby to Kings by the hospitals Listen charity, which provides advice and support to liver transplant patients and their families. We hope that our trip will help to raise awareness of the amazing work that Kings and Listen do and get people to think about becoming organ donors, added Corrine. British Airways' director of flight operations, Captain Stephen Riley said: I am absolutely delighted for Chris and his friends and family. I am sure I speak for everyone at BA when I say we wish him and Corrine the very best for their amazing flight. It's great to see that he is flying again and Im sure the skill and professionalism which he displayed in his 27 years at BA will prove invaluable on their incredible trip.
Please visit www.flight4lives.com for more information and to sponsor Chris and Corrine on their trip.
Ends Notes to editors: 1. For further information contact:

Anna Sykes, Corporate Communications, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Tel: 020 3299 3850, Fax: 020 3299 3207 e-mail: annasykes@nhs.net www.kch.nhs.uk
2. Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UKs largest and
busiest teaching hospitals, with over 6,500 staff providing around 800,000 patient contacts a year. Kings has a unique profile, with a full range of local hospital services for people in the London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark as well as specialist services to patients from further afield. The Trust is recognized internationally for its work in liver disease and transplantation, neurosciences, cardiac and haemato-oncology. Kings also plays a key role in the training and education of medical, nursing and dental students with its academic partner, Kings College London. For more information, visit www.kch.nhs.uk 3. Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is part of Kings Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between Kings College London, and Guys and St Thomas, Kings College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.
4. Kings Health Partners is one of only five AHSCs in the UK and brings
together an unrivalled range and depth of clinical and research expertise, spanning both physical and mental health. Our combined strengths will drive improvements in care for patients, allowing them to benefit from breakthroughs in medical science and receive leading edge treatment at the earliest possible opportunity.
5. For more information, visit www.kingshealthpartners.org

Flight For Lives KCH Press Release

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Flight For Lives KCH Press Release

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Flight For Lives KCH Press Release

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Press release

Ends Notes to editors: 1. For further information contact:

5. For more information, visit www.kingshealthpartners.org

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.